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linzthebookworm's review
2.0
The concept of this book was interesting, but I felt like it fell way beneath my expectations. I was hoping to see Gypsy use her abilities more, but she was too afraid to use them. The mystery was interesting at first but then got extremely dull and repetitive. The book was little action and mostly just talking and planning. Gypsy seemed robotic, and the only time she showed any emotion was when she was swooning after one of the three dudes who are apparently in love with her, but she had no idea.
The ending of the book felt more like a chapter ending than a book ending, even the first in a series. I have no desire to continue reading this series and am relieved to be done with this book.
For my complete review check out: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2016/12/gypsy.html
The ending of the book felt more like a chapter ending than a book ending, even the first in a series. I have no desire to continue reading this series and am relieved to be done with this book.
For my complete review check out: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2016/12/gypsy.html
jaimearkin's review
4.0
Are you looking for a new paranormal/sci-fi series to sink your teeth into? Look no further because Trisha Leigh has the perfect start to one!
Gypsy has grown up as an orphan in a private sanctuary… one where she is among others of her kind … kids with genetic mutations that can affect them in many different ways. Those in charge have labeled them “The Cavies.” Her talent is what puts her into a category that those same people refer to as “inconsequential”. Her talent you ask? When she touches someone she can see the age they will be when they die. While a useful tool, it’s definitely not as significant as the talents of her friends who can be invisible, or have super speed, or could even kill you if they wanted to. But she feels at home amongst the others even if she doesn’t have as much power as some of them.
Suddenly, her world is rocked when the home she grew up in is found and secrets are revealed. Suddenly her and her friends are pushed into the real world to meet families they never knew, and adjust to a new life where no one knows about the powers they have... yet. But Gypsy has dreamed for as long as she can remember about experiencing a normal life … one where she isn’t tested and poked and prodded on a daily basis. One where she gets to attend a real high school and make normal friends, and among her small group, she’s the one most likely to succeed … she just has to make sure she doesn’t touch anyone and no one finds out what they can do.
Of course things don’t necessarily go that smoothly.
Someone knows all about them, and what they can do, and after each of them is attacked and injected with something their powers begin to change … some in ways they can’t seem to control.
When the cavies decide they need to know more… more about their origins, more about their history and more about the place they grew up, they find themselves in a web of lies and deceit not knowing who they can trust to help them unravel the truth, and then one of their own goes missing and it’s a race against time to rescue them that will have you on the edge of your seat!
I’ve been waiting patiently … (maybe not so patiently) for a new YA series from Trisha Leigh since the last page of her The Last Year Series. So when I begged her to let me read this one I was so excited when she said yes! Let me start by saying that this book has a definite X-Men feel to it, especially at the very beginning and I loved it. Our protagonist Gypsy, was so easy to like… she values her friendships and the relationships she grew up with, but you can feel her yearning for more with every page. When she finally gets her wish, she doesn’t just bail on those who have been such a big part of her life. She still treasures those connections and while she ends up making new friends, she never bails on those who are struggling to fit in.
I really loved both the old friendships that Gypsy has and the new ones she ends up making … And her relationship with her father was so wonderful! I loved watching them both kind of acclimate to this new position in their lives, forming that bond and learning to trust each other.
My only complaint… and I’m going to just get it out of the way, the first fourth of this book is a bit slow moving. Unfortunately I don’t think that there would be any way around this. Trisha Leigh does a wonderful job of building and creating the background and providing the information you need for the story, but I feel like that is what slowed the pace of the story. That said, once the action & suspense kicks in, it doesn’t really stop and it will have you turning pages as quick as you can.
There is a tiny bit of a romance that pops up in this story and even a bit of what MAY end up being a love triangle, but I say a bit of a romance because it’s just little teases here and there. Nothing full-fledged. But can I confide in you all… I wanted more kissing!! I know I know… part of the issue is Gypsy’s talent, which doesn’t really help with the romance. But I truly loved seeing her navigate and try to understand her feelings for both of the guys involved.
With a fun and interesting story, engaging, layered characters, and a mystery that will have you trying to figure out which team to be cheering for, Trisha Leigh has the start of an amazing new series that I can’t wait for more of. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger my friends, so consider that your warning, but you must pick this one up as soon as you can… I think you’ll love the amazing story that you’ll find!
Gypsy has grown up as an orphan in a private sanctuary… one where she is among others of her kind … kids with genetic mutations that can affect them in many different ways. Those in charge have labeled them “The Cavies.” Her talent is what puts her into a category that those same people refer to as “inconsequential”. Her talent you ask? When she touches someone she can see the age they will be when they die. While a useful tool, it’s definitely not as significant as the talents of her friends who can be invisible, or have super speed, or could even kill you if they wanted to. But she feels at home amongst the others even if she doesn’t have as much power as some of them.
Suddenly, her world is rocked when the home she grew up in is found and secrets are revealed. Suddenly her and her friends are pushed into the real world to meet families they never knew, and adjust to a new life where no one knows about the powers they have... yet. But Gypsy has dreamed for as long as she can remember about experiencing a normal life … one where she isn’t tested and poked and prodded on a daily basis. One where she gets to attend a real high school and make normal friends, and among her small group, she’s the one most likely to succeed … she just has to make sure she doesn’t touch anyone and no one finds out what they can do.
Of course things don’t necessarily go that smoothly.
Someone knows all about them, and what they can do, and after each of them is attacked and injected with something their powers begin to change … some in ways they can’t seem to control.
When the cavies decide they need to know more… more about their origins, more about their history and more about the place they grew up, they find themselves in a web of lies and deceit not knowing who they can trust to help them unravel the truth, and then one of their own goes missing and it’s a race against time to rescue them that will have you on the edge of your seat!
I’ve been waiting patiently … (maybe not so patiently) for a new YA series from Trisha Leigh since the last page of her The Last Year Series. So when I begged her to let me read this one I was so excited when she said yes! Let me start by saying that this book has a definite X-Men feel to it, especially at the very beginning and I loved it. Our protagonist Gypsy, was so easy to like… she values her friendships and the relationships she grew up with, but you can feel her yearning for more with every page. When she finally gets her wish, she doesn’t just bail on those who have been such a big part of her life. She still treasures those connections and while she ends up making new friends, she never bails on those who are struggling to fit in.
I really loved both the old friendships that Gypsy has and the new ones she ends up making … And her relationship with her father was so wonderful! I loved watching them both kind of acclimate to this new position in their lives, forming that bond and learning to trust each other.
My only complaint… and I’m going to just get it out of the way, the first fourth of this book is a bit slow moving. Unfortunately I don’t think that there would be any way around this. Trisha Leigh does a wonderful job of building and creating the background and providing the information you need for the story, but I feel like that is what slowed the pace of the story. That said, once the action & suspense kicks in, it doesn’t really stop and it will have you turning pages as quick as you can.
There is a tiny bit of a romance that pops up in this story and even a bit of what MAY end up being a love triangle, but I say a bit of a romance because it’s just little teases here and there. Nothing full-fledged. But can I confide in you all… I wanted more kissing!! I know I know… part of the issue is Gypsy’s talent, which doesn’t really help with the romance. But I truly loved seeing her navigate and try to understand her feelings for both of the guys involved.
With a fun and interesting story, engaging, layered characters, and a mystery that will have you trying to figure out which team to be cheering for, Trisha Leigh has the start of an amazing new series that I can’t wait for more of. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger my friends, so consider that your warning, but you must pick this one up as soon as you can… I think you’ll love the amazing story that you’ll find!
reader_fictions's review
3.0
For more reviews, gifs, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I’ve read five previous novels by Trisha and I’ve liked them all. Gypsy definitely seemed like a safe bet, since this one, of them all, seemed like it was the most up my alley interests-wise. The subject matter is definitely Christina-bait, though I didn’t know that until I actually started, since the cover made me think it was about ghosts. Sadly, I think this may be my least favorite of Trisha’s books. There were definitely things I liked about it, but a few quirks really irked me.
The Cavy Files sounded like a really weird series name to me, and it took me about half the book to understand why it works, btu that does end up being really cool. The Cavies are the main characters, and they all have powers. They’re sort of X-Menish, but with their own special abilities and challenges. The coolest thing, I think, was the shared mental clubhouse that the ten Cavies could visit while zoning out in the real world. I also liked how varied the powers were in utility, and that the MC, Gypsy, is the least powerful.
The Cavies have grown up together at Darley, an old southern plantation. They’ve been educated and tested by scientists all their lives, told that they’re safer here because the real world would fear and despise them for their powers. What they don’t know is that the end result of that would be them getting locked up in a place with powers comparable to Darley. Anyway, a reporter reveals that children are being kept on this creepy plantation and the kids are rescued. Many, like Gypsy, discover that they have a remaining parent or grandparents. They all have real names. One of the aspects I liked best of Gypsy was the settling in process and how difficult it is for most of the Cavies. I also enjoyed the reflections on what pop culture had gotten wrong about high school.
Each Cavy has two names: their name given to them at Darley and their birth name. The names from Darley relate to their power, though sometimes I don’t understand how. Gypsy’s racist (and the book does reference this) moniker refers to her ability to see when a person will die. The names were my biggest obstacle in the book. Once the second set of names are revealed, I had a really difficult time connecting up the two names. If it had been one switchover, I probably would have managed, but Gypsy/Norah switches back and forth constantly.
Worse for me were the Darley names. Gypsy’s actually one of the better ones. Reaper’s a pretty cool nickname, considering that her power can kill. Flicker fits, since she can teleport. Some of the names, though, threw me out of the book every damn time I encountered them. Athena, for example, is a dude, who has super hearing, but who I could not keep distinct from Goose to the degree I just had to look that up. Athena was named for the Greek goddess, because “of his super hearing and the way people associated her with owls.” Was there really no better referencey name for someone with super hearing? Then there’s Mole, who, despite having fire powers, is named for the fact that he’s blind; I love that he’s depicted as so strong and self-sufficient, but that seemed really awful. Then there’s Haint, who can go invisible. Is it that she “haint” even there? I’ve since learned that it’s a SC term for a ghost, but that’s what I thought whenever I saw it and this name made me physically twitch.
There’s a lot of diversity in Gypsy, which is great, both racial and the inclusion of characters with disabilities. I just wish that the cast had come more alive for me. Gypsy, since she’s the main POV, character is most fleshed out, followed, I think, by Mole. Gypsy’s irritating swears (“Oh, goodnight nurse”, “Shitfire”, and “Oh fits and starts” are some examples) and metaphors got on my nerves, as did the fact that she was REREADING Gravity’s Rainbow. I mean, really. The best relationship development of the book was the one between Gypsy and her father. He’s very sweet and trying very hard to make her feel welcome. Throughout, I had a lot of trouble remembering precisely who was who, partially because of the names and maybe because the cast was so large.
The romance aspect was, like the rest of the book, both the best and the worst. I have high hopes in this department, because there’s a definite reverse harem happening for Gypsy with Jude, Dane and Mole. I am all about reverse harems and so I am loving the dynamic that’s forming. Unfortunately, in this book, Gypsy’s pretty dead set on the one guy I really don’t like. Or, actually, I don’t hate him, but he’s so boring and conventional.
The plot I do like. It’s one of those books where the kids really don’t ever seem to have great options. Darley was obviously a mess, though they didn’t realize it. Normal life might not be possible for most of them. The government certainly doesn’t seem like it will given them a good life either. Everything’s a mess and there’s no way to know who to trust. I enjoy these sorts of plots, because I think they make things more unpredictable. The setting in Charleston is also well done.
So yeah, I’m kind of all over the place with Gypsy. I kind of want to read more, because reverse harem and powers, but I’m not sure if I can handle all the nicknames anymore.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I’ve read five previous novels by Trisha and I’ve liked them all. Gypsy definitely seemed like a safe bet, since this one, of them all, seemed like it was the most up my alley interests-wise. The subject matter is definitely Christina-bait, though I didn’t know that until I actually started, since the cover made me think it was about ghosts. Sadly, I think this may be my least favorite of Trisha’s books. There were definitely things I liked about it, but a few quirks really irked me.
The Cavy Files sounded like a really weird series name to me, and it took me about half the book to understand why it works, btu that does end up being really cool. The Cavies are the main characters, and they all have powers. They’re sort of X-Menish, but with their own special abilities and challenges. The coolest thing, I think, was the shared mental clubhouse that the ten Cavies could visit while zoning out in the real world. I also liked how varied the powers were in utility, and that the MC, Gypsy, is the least powerful.
The Cavies have grown up together at Darley, an old southern plantation. They’ve been educated and tested by scientists all their lives, told that they’re safer here because the real world would fear and despise them for their powers. What they don’t know is that the end result of that would be them getting locked up in a place with powers comparable to Darley. Anyway, a reporter reveals that children are being kept on this creepy plantation and the kids are rescued. Many, like Gypsy, discover that they have a remaining parent or grandparents. They all have real names. One of the aspects I liked best of Gypsy was the settling in process and how difficult it is for most of the Cavies. I also enjoyed the reflections on what pop culture had gotten wrong about high school.
Each Cavy has two names: their name given to them at Darley and their birth name. The names from Darley relate to their power, though sometimes I don’t understand how. Gypsy’s racist (and the book does reference this) moniker refers to her ability to see when a person will die. The names were my biggest obstacle in the book. Once the second set of names are revealed, I had a really difficult time connecting up the two names. If it had been one switchover, I probably would have managed, but Gypsy/Norah switches back and forth constantly.
Worse for me were the Darley names. Gypsy’s actually one of the better ones. Reaper’s a pretty cool nickname, considering that her power can kill. Flicker fits, since she can teleport. Some of the names, though, threw me out of the book every damn time I encountered them. Athena, for example, is a dude, who has super hearing, but who I could not keep distinct from Goose to the degree I just had to look that up. Athena was named for the Greek goddess, because “of his super hearing and the way people associated her with owls.” Was there really no better referencey name for someone with super hearing? Then there’s Mole, who, despite having fire powers, is named for the fact that he’s blind; I love that he’s depicted as so strong and self-sufficient, but that seemed really awful. Then there’s Haint, who can go invisible. Is it that she “haint” even there? I’ve since learned that it’s a SC term for a ghost, but that’s what I thought whenever I saw it and this name made me physically twitch.
There’s a lot of diversity in Gypsy, which is great, both racial and the inclusion of characters with disabilities. I just wish that the cast had come more alive for me. Gypsy, since she’s the main POV, character is most fleshed out, followed, I think, by Mole. Gypsy’s irritating swears (“Oh, goodnight nurse”, “Shitfire”, and “Oh fits and starts” are some examples) and metaphors got on my nerves, as did the fact that she was REREADING Gravity’s Rainbow. I mean, really. The best relationship development of the book was the one between Gypsy and her father. He’s very sweet and trying very hard to make her feel welcome. Throughout, I had a lot of trouble remembering precisely who was who, partially because of the names and maybe because the cast was so large.
The romance aspect was, like the rest of the book, both the best and the worst. I have high hopes in this department, because there’s a definite reverse harem happening for Gypsy with Jude, Dane and Mole. I am all about reverse harems and so I am loving the dynamic that’s forming. Unfortunately, in this book, Gypsy’s pretty dead set on the one guy I really don’t like. Or, actually, I don’t hate him, but he’s so boring and conventional.
The plot I do like. It’s one of those books where the kids really don’t ever seem to have great options. Darley was obviously a mess, though they didn’t realize it. Normal life might not be possible for most of them. The government certainly doesn’t seem like it will given them a good life either. Everything’s a mess and there’s no way to know who to trust. I enjoy these sorts of plots, because I think they make things more unpredictable. The setting in Charleston is also well done.
So yeah, I’m kind of all over the place with Gypsy. I kind of want to read more, because reverse harem and powers, but I’m not sure if I can handle all the nicknames anymore.
thefox22's review
4.0
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.
I got hooked on the idea of this book through the synopsis, and when a blog tour was organizing, I wanted to be part of it! Gypsy reminded me a lot of X-Men and I loved that. It was a great sci-fi/paranormal story with likable characters, strong friendships, and a smidge of normal among the unique.
Rating: 4 Stars!
I loved Gypsy's voice! She's a very endearing character who only wants some normalcy in her life amid the supernatural. Out of all the Cavies, she's the one who dreams most of a world outside the Darley Hall, a life not filled with constant testing and people who have abilities that range from mild to deadly. And Gypsy's ability is the most mild of all. It's pretty much nothing, and Gypsy has resented that fact her whole life. She doesn't feel like she truly belongs with the Cavies, and when the chance comes for her to experience normal, she grabs onto it with both hands and won't let go.
All of the Cavies are thrown into a chaotic world that they don't know how to navigate. But they still have each other; a bond was formed between all of them so long ago that life without each other seems impossible to comprehend. Gypsy struggles with this, and struggles with her secret feelings of happiness at being able to attend a normal school and have a relationship with her dad. Some of the other Cavies resent the ease with which she navigates this world that she doesn't know at all. But Gypsy won't let them ruin her newfound happiness, even if she loves them all dearly. The other Cavies are important people to her; more than friends, they're her family. And she'll have to constantly choose between them and this new life.
I loved the other Cavies! They each had their own unique personalities, combined with their extraordinary abilities. Mole was my favorite; a strong, silent, and intelligent guy who has been Gypsy's best friend since they were kids. I also loved Haint; the invisible girl who doesn't show vulnerability. The twins, Reaper, and even Pollyanna. I liked them all, and their relationships with each other were very complex. Their lives so intertwined through years of shared secrecy and close proximity. It's hard for them to separate from each other, and even harder when one of their own is in trouble.
Gypsy also meets characters at her new high school, but honestly, I didn't care for them much. I was more interested in the other Cavies. I also disliked the whole "love square" going on between Gypsy, Jude, Dane, and Mole (my personal choice). Gypsy didn't fall into insta-love with any of them, but there was a bit of drama, enough jealousy and male testosterone to make me think that the romance was being forced.
The book was very slow-paced, and in the beginning, I felt like I was forcing myself through it. But that quickly changed as the mysteries behind the Cavies, their guardians, and what happened to Flicker start to surface. The story-line is balanced with Gypsy's new life and amateur sleuthing to uncover all the secrets surrounding their births. Where the story-line went proved to be very interesting, and I can't wait to see where the sequel goes!
Gypsy was a unique take on supernatural abilities and the secrecy behind government dealings. I loved the Cavies, and I want more of them! :)
I got hooked on the idea of this book through the synopsis, and when a blog tour was organizing, I wanted to be part of it! Gypsy reminded me a lot of X-Men and I loved that. It was a great sci-fi/paranormal story with likable characters, strong friendships, and a smidge of normal among the unique.
Rating: 4 Stars!
I loved Gypsy's voice! She's a very endearing character who only wants some normalcy in her life amid the supernatural. Out of all the Cavies, she's the one who dreams most of a world outside the Darley Hall, a life not filled with constant testing and people who have abilities that range from mild to deadly. And Gypsy's ability is the most mild of all. It's pretty much nothing, and Gypsy has resented that fact her whole life. She doesn't feel like she truly belongs with the Cavies, and when the chance comes for her to experience normal, she grabs onto it with both hands and won't let go.
All of the Cavies are thrown into a chaotic world that they don't know how to navigate. But they still have each other; a bond was formed between all of them so long ago that life without each other seems impossible to comprehend. Gypsy struggles with this, and struggles with her secret feelings of happiness at being able to attend a normal school and have a relationship with her dad. Some of the other Cavies resent the ease with which she navigates this world that she doesn't know at all. But Gypsy won't let them ruin her newfound happiness, even if she loves them all dearly. The other Cavies are important people to her; more than friends, they're her family. And she'll have to constantly choose between them and this new life.
I loved the other Cavies! They each had their own unique personalities, combined with their extraordinary abilities. Mole was my favorite; a strong, silent, and intelligent guy who has been Gypsy's best friend since they were kids. I also loved Haint; the invisible girl who doesn't show vulnerability. The twins, Reaper, and even Pollyanna. I liked them all, and their relationships with each other were very complex. Their lives so intertwined through years of shared secrecy and close proximity. It's hard for them to separate from each other, and even harder when one of their own is in trouble.
Gypsy also meets characters at her new high school, but honestly, I didn't care for them much. I was more interested in the other Cavies. I also disliked the whole "love square" going on between Gypsy, Jude, Dane, and Mole (my personal choice). Gypsy didn't fall into insta-love with any of them, but there was a bit of drama, enough jealousy and male testosterone to make me think that the romance was being forced.
The book was very slow-paced, and in the beginning, I felt like I was forcing myself through it. But that quickly changed as the mysteries behind the Cavies, their guardians, and what happened to Flicker start to surface. The story-line is balanced with Gypsy's new life and amateur sleuthing to uncover all the secrets surrounding their births. Where the story-line went proved to be very interesting, and I can't wait to see where the sequel goes!
Gypsy was a unique take on supernatural abilities and the secrecy behind government dealings. I loved the Cavies, and I want more of them! :)
lissyiszy's review
3.0
Let me say that since I got an ARC the writing was still rough around the edges but it started off pretty good. The book sort of reminds me of a more everyday X-Men with some genetic mutations and their abilities but with normal kids.
It starts right smack in the lives they have always known. Then they are yanked right out of the lives they have always known and were content with and thrown in a whole new life. I find that it's a very real situation. It's the idea that you never knew what you had till it's gone and I get that with this story. However, I feel that the execution right after they left wasn't real enough for me.
The characters were too smart and not traumatic enough for me which isn't a terrible thing because I wouldn't want to read about them dwelling on their misery and the past. Unfortunately, I didn't find their reactions too believable either. I think that could have been worked on a little more but it was acceptable for me.
I really liked the characters. They were all unique and had a personality. I had no problem seeing them in my mind. I liked Gypsy, even though she's not as special as her companions she still puts her best foot forward to make the best of the current situation. She even gets some hot boys interested in her without trying and Gypsy is humble enough that I don't mind.
The pacing was ok, I felt like it could have been sped up a little but I'm also used to faster paced books. I found myself skimming ahead at some parts. I do want to mention that the author did a lovely job describing the southern landscapes and with the dialogue of the characters. I enjoyed some of the witty quips between the characters.
Unfortunately, I could predict a few of the threads of the story. Although, I wasn't certain my hunches were true until they actually happened but I had a feeling they were the ones behind it. I was right for the most part but didn't really see the ending coming which was good but abrupt. I was so excited when I got there that wanted to see more of what would happen but was devastated to see that was the end. I also feel like once we reached the climax of the story we didn't get any new information that hadn't already been shared in the middle of the story until the last sentence of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and if you like X-Men or like supernatural powers or abilities I think you'll enjoy this book! There are some good elements that I think you'll like if you like a little mystery and slow building stories.
It starts right smack in the lives they have always known. Then they are yanked right out of the lives they have always known and were content with and thrown in a whole new life. I find that it's a very real situation. It's the idea that you never knew what you had till it's gone and I get that with this story. However, I feel that the execution right after they left wasn't real enough for me.
The characters were too smart and not traumatic enough for me which isn't a terrible thing because I wouldn't want to read about them dwelling on their misery and the past. Unfortunately, I didn't find their reactions too believable either. I think that could have been worked on a little more but it was acceptable for me.
I really liked the characters. They were all unique and had a personality. I had no problem seeing them in my mind. I liked Gypsy, even though she's not as special as her companions she still puts her best foot forward to make the best of the current situation. She even gets some hot boys interested in her without trying and Gypsy is humble enough that I don't mind.
The pacing was ok, I felt like it could have been sped up a little but I'm also used to faster paced books. I found myself skimming ahead at some parts. I do want to mention that the author did a lovely job describing the southern landscapes and with the dialogue of the characters. I enjoyed some of the witty quips between the characters.
Unfortunately, I could predict a few of the threads of the story. Although, I wasn't certain my hunches were true until they actually happened but I had a feeling they were the ones behind it. I was right for the most part but didn't really see the ending coming which was good but abrupt. I was so excited when I got there that wanted to see more of what would happen but was devastated to see that was the end. I also feel like once we reached the climax of the story we didn't get any new information that hadn't already been shared in the middle of the story until the last sentence of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and if you like X-Men or like supernatural powers or abilities I think you'll enjoy this book! There are some good elements that I think you'll like if you like a little mystery and slow building stories.
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